Closure for receptacles



Sept. 27, 1938. P, M; THoRN CLOSURE FQR RECEPTACLES Filed Dec. 19, 1935Patented Sept. 27, 1938 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to closures. It is an ob- Ject of this inventionto provide a closure of the sifter type which may be readily opened andclosed and which, when in the closed position, will maintain a tightclosure at all times. It is a further object to provide a top ofthecharacter described which will be simple in construction and reliable inoperation.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessingthe features, properties, and the relation of elements which will beexemplified in the article hereinafter describedand the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the inventionreference should be had to the following detailed description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a top embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the base member.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the shutter member.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the assembled device.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the curved line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

In the drawing the character B represents a cup shaped base memberhaving a side wall II and an end wall I2. The side wall II is providedwith a peripheral indentation I3 for the attachment of a cap memberhereafter to be described, and the end wall I2 is provided with aplurality of perforations I4. Mounted upon the base member is a cupshaped cap member C having its lateral wall 9 extending down parallel toand embracing the side wall II of the base member, and havingindentations I5 spaced approximately 90c apart engaging diametricallydisposed indentation I3 of the base member to hold the cap member inplace and against excessive axial movement in either direction. The endwall I6 of the cap member is substantially parallel to and spaced fromthe end wall I2 of the base member to form a space for a shutter S tolie between them. This shutter S has at one end a pin I1 tting within arecess I8 in the base, and at the other end a pin I9 fitting within arecess in the cap. The shutter member S has its contour defined by twoarcs of circles whereby it may be swung from one side of the base memberto the other, and with this construction it will be clear that as thecap member C is rotated by virtue of the knurled portion l0, through asmall arc, the engagement of the pins and recesses will cause theshutter to be moved from one side to the other. In one of the extremep0- sitions of the shutter and cap member these two members are providedwith openings Ila and Mb respectively, which register with theperforations I4 in the base but which will be clear that as the shutteris swung to the other position, the parts will be moved within registrywith each other.

1t will be noted that the perforations Il are not equally spaced aroundthe periphery of the cap. This is by reason of the fact that the shutteris pivoted at its opposite ends, and near the pivots the relativemovement between the pivoted parts is much less than throughout theremainder of the surface. It follows that the openings adjacent to eachof the pivots can only be closed by an extreme angular movement 4of theshutter about its pivots which is not desired. To

overcome this diiculty perforations near the pivots are omitted.

It will be further observed that the maximum relative movement betweenthe shutter and the parts to which it is pivoted occurs along the arcsof the circles having their centers at the pivots and the limit of thesize of opening permissible is limited upon mutual physical movement ofthese parts along these circles. It follows that a greater opening canbe obtained for any given movement of the shutter if the openings beelongated along the axis passing through the pivots.

For the purpose of causing a completely tight joint the end walls I2 andI6 respectively may be deformed in such a manner as to press toward eachother over the areas immediately surrounding the openings as shown at 22so that the area of pressure is confined to the areas where the tightjoint is required.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction anddifferent embodiments of the invention could be made without departingfrom the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in theabove description or shown in the accompanyingdrawing shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereinde scribed, and all statements of the scope`of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A closure of the character described comprising in combination a baseportion and a cap portion ttinglover said base portion, a shuttermovable between said portions and pivoted at its opposite ends to saidportions having a piurality of registering openings through saidportions and said shutter whereby movement of said cap portion upon thebase portion will move the shutter to bring said openings in the baseportion, in the cap portion and in the shutter. in a position toregister with each other in one position of the parts, said openingsbeing disposed in symmetrical groups and being spaced circumferentiallymore distant from each other at points corresponding to the position ofthe two pivots than between said points.

2. A closure of the character described com prising in combination abase portion and a cap portion fitting over said baseportion, a. shuttermovable between said portions and pivoted at its opposite ends to saidportions there being registerable openings in said base portion, saidcap portion and said shutter whereby movement of said cap portion uponthe base portion will move the shutter to bring said openings in thebase portion, in the cap portion and in the shutter, in a position toregister with each other in one position of the parts, said openingsbeing disposed in symmetrical groups distant from the pivots, each ofsaid openings being elongated in the direction of a radius through thenearest pivot whereby the maximum opening is obtained with the minimummovement.,

3. A closure of the character described comprising in combination a baseportion and a cap portion tting over said base portion, a shuttermovable between said portions and pivoted at its opposite ends to saidportions there being registerable openings in said base portion. saidcap portion and said shutter whereby movement of said cap portion uponthe base portion will move the shutter to bring said openings in the'base portion, in the cap portion and in the shutter. in a position toregister with each other in one position of the parts, said openingsbeing disposed in symmetrical groups distant from the pivots and saidopenings being arranged symmetricaliy and concentrically upon the capportion but with no openings near the pivots, said base portion and saidcap portion having two sets of cooperating circumferential bearings oflimited circumferential extent'to prevent relative movements of theparts along the axis in either direction, but to permit alimitedrotation sufcient to move the shutter and the limiting of said bearingbeing suiiicient to prevent further rotary movement.

4. A closure of the character described comprising in combination a baseportion and cap portion fitting over the base portion, each of saidportions having an end wail, and a side wall, a shutter fitting betweenthe end walls and pivoted at one end to the base portion and at theother end to the cap portion, such base portion, cap portion and shutterhaving a plurality of openings adapted to register in one position ofthe cap portion 'and the end wali of said base portion having a raisedboss surrounding each of said openings to concentrate the pressure atthat point.

PERCY M. THORN.

